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HUB Program Training
Pursuant to Texas Government Code, 21.61.062(b), the Comptroller shall offer Historically Underutilized Businesses assistance and training regarding state procurement procedures:
Statewide Procurement Division Vendor Training
The Statewide Procurement Division (SPD) at the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts serves as the Chief Procurement Office for Texas and the state’s procurement authority for non-IT goods and services.
SPD initiates and awards statewide contracts for more than 200 state agencies and 1,750 local customers statewide. In addition, Texas actively participates in the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) ValuePoint purchasing cooperative, adopting local participating addenda for statewide use, as well as facilitating access to ValuePoint contracts for local government customers with particular needs.
Vendors registered with the state of Texas have access to hundreds of bid opportunities with Texas state agencies, institutions of higher education, school districts and city and county governments.
Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL)
The CMBL is used by state purchasing entities to develop a mailing list for vendors to receive bid opportunities based on class and items selected for the products or services that can be provided to districts specified for the state of Texas.
Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)
SPD administers the Statewide HUB program to help service-disabled veteran-, minority- and women-owned small businesses tap into state contracts for products and services across Texas.
The Statewide HUB Program’s manager and designated staff also are the primary liaisons for state agencies and universities that administer internal HUB Programs and can help guide and ensure that these programs are compliant with Texas statutes and requirements.
HUB Program Overview (PDF)
Texas Multiple Award Schedule (TXMAS)
TXMAS is an alternative purchasing method that has been developed through contracts awarded by the federal, state or local governments.
Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD)
The ESBD is an online search engine that provides state contracts $25,000 and higher for bidding and award notification. The Statewide HUB Program partnered with the Texas A&M University System to provide this quick video overview on how to use the ESBD.
Additional SPD Vendor Training
National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Commodity Book
Bidders are encouraged to become familiar with NIGP codes as they apply to the Centralized Master Bidders List search and HUB vendor profiles, if applicable. Agencies use these class and item numbers and descriptions to properly code products or services on requisitions. Purchasers use the NIGP codes to ensure bid invitations will reach vendors who have indicated they can furnish the required materials, equipment, supplies and services.
Download the Statewide HUB Program's NIGP training resource for a guide on how to find and navigate the applicable class and item number codes.
NIGP Code Training (PDF)
Statewide HUB Program partnered with the Texas A&M University System to provide a quick and simple training on this resource.
Other Vendor Resources
Department of Information Resources (DIR)
DIR is the state’s information technology and telecommunications agency that uses strategic sourcing methods to select vendors that offer the best value on IT items to Texas agencies. DIR provides a range of products and services to agencies and eligible customers, including local governments and universities.
How to Do Business with DIR (PDF)
Statewide HUB Program Applicant and Vendor Training
Texas Statewide HUB Online System - HUB Certification Portal
Certification through the Statewide HUB Program requires specific information about a small business along with supporting documentation to substantiate and verify the business structure is eligible. Once a business owner submits a completed application and all required documents, the HUB certification process begins, and a decision will be provided within 90 days.
HUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP) Forms & Good Faith Effort (GFE)
The HSP is required for procurements with a total contract amount of $100,000 and higher or where subcontracting opportunities have been identified as probable. When procurements require HSPs they are mandatory documents is to be submitted by all prime bidders (including certified HUBs) and is a pass or fail item.
If the HUB Coordinator determines the HSP was not submitted in a Good Faith Effort (GFE), then the entire bid proposal will be rejected and not evaluated further for potential award. There are several ways to submit a compliant HSP, and Statewide HUB Program recommends attending all pre-bid conference meetings, reaching out the designated HUB Coordinators and reviewing the associated resources:
HUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP) 2024 (PDF)
HUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP) 2024
DIR HUB Subcontracting Plan Method A, Attachment A
DIR HUB Subcontracting Plan HSP Method B, Attachment B
DIR HUB Subcontracting Plan Self-Performing Webinar
Understanding the Progress Assessment Report (PAR) Form
Mentor Protégé Program
The purpose of the Mentor Protege Program is to foster long-term relationships between experienced contractors and HUBs and to increase the ability of HUBs to obtain and perform contracts and subcontracts for state agency business.
Additional Vendor Resources:
Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Updates (PDF)
HUB Coordinator Training
Agencies and universities with a biennial budget of over $10,000,000 will have designated at least one full-time staff member to serve as the HUB Coordinator during the fiscal year as per Texas Government Code, §2161.062(e) and Texas Administrative Code 34 §20.296. The HUB coordinator(s) will advise and assist state agency directors and staff in complying with the requirements of this program.
The agencies shall demonstrate their Good Faith Effort by providing the HUB coordinator with the necessary and sufficient resources to effectively promote the achievement of all the responsibilities of the HUB Coordinator.
The HUB Coordinator will assist its state agency in the following:
- development of the state agency's procurement specifications
- HUB Subcontracting Plans (HSPs) and
- The evaluation of contracts for compliance.
The duties and responsibilities of HUB Coordinators include, but are not limited to:
- facilitating compliance with the state agency's Good Faith Effort criteria
- HUB reporting
- contract administration and
- marketing and outreach efforts for HUB participation.
The Comptroller may assist agencies, upon request, to identify other responsibilities of a HUB Coordinator for compliance. Below are various HUB Coordinator resources for reference:
Texas Administrative Codes Updates Effective FY23
HUB Program: TAC Updates (2024)
HUB Program: TAC Updates (PDF)
HUB Reporting 101 (PDF)
HUB Reporting Supplemental Letter - 508 Accessibility
HUB Reporting Supplemental Letter (PDF)
HUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP) 2024
HUB Subcontracting Plan (PDF)
HUB Vendor Directory (PDF)
The HUB Directory is updated daily to indicate current certification status. As the HUB Directory is housed on the same platform as the CMBL, the search features allow users to search by these categories:
- HUBs only, the official HUB Directory.
- HUBs vendors also listed on the CMBL.
- CMBL-only vendors.
- All vendors, both HUB and CMBL vendors.
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) HUB Certification Partners Training
This video training gives MOA partners an overview of the HUB Program and certification in accordance with the Texas Government Code Section 2161:
HUB Training: MOA HUB Certification Partners. What does it mean?
HUB Training: MOA HUB Certification Partners (PDF)
HUB Certified Vendor Entry Portal Training (PDF)
Additional HUB certification reference material and resources:
- Business Structure Checklist and Related Resources
- HUB Certification Process (PDF)
- HUB Application Q&A Process (PDF)
- Adding NIGP Codes to HUB Certification (PDF)
System Support Guides
Mentor Protégé Agreement Reporting Guide (PDF)
This guide covers reporting instructions for HUB Coordinators on how to submit a Mentor Protégé Agreements within Texas SmartBuy.
HUB Coordinator Contact Guide (PDF)
State agency super users are required to update their entities HUB coordinators’ contacts. This guide provides instructions on how to update the HUB contacts through Texas SmartBuy.
Education & Outreach Forums (EOF Calendar) Advertisement Guide (PDF)
The Statewide HUB Program provides a guide to assist entities with advertising various EOFs (vendor fairs, spot bid fairs, conventions, conferences, workshops, seminars, etc.) for small, minority-, woman- and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.